The Kogi State Government has prohibited trade unions from collecting daily revenue across all 21 Local Government Areas, citing concerns over financial mismanagement by some union leaders.
Governor Usman Ododo, represented by the Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, made the announcement on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Kogi State.
He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to supporting individuals and groups in ways that foster the state’s development.
Fanwo recalled that in 2017, the government introduced the Infrastructure Maintenance Levy as part of the Kogi State Revenue Harmonisation Law.
The levy required commercial vehicle operators to make a modest daily contribution to fund infrastructure improvements and sustain economic growth.
“Unfortunately, the implementation of this law has been undermined by some union leaders who prioritise personal gain over the interests of their members and the state. Instead of remitting these funds as stipulated, they have resorted to collecting illegal membership dues, depriving both their members and the government of much-needed revenue,” Fanwo stated.
To address this, the government has officially prohibited the collection of daily levies by unions and has instructed security agencies to enforce the ban.
Authorities warned that any attempt to disrupt public order in response to the directive would not be tolerated.
“While we respect the constitutional rights of individuals to freedom of association, we emphasise that union dues must be fair, agreed upon by members, and collected monthly, bi-annually, or annually as specified in their by-laws, not daily,” the statement added.
Further reinforcing the government’s stance, Kogi State Security Adviser, Commodore Jerry Omodara (retd.), assured that strict enforcement measures would be in place.
He also reminded stakeholders that commercial tricycles and motorcycles remain prohibited from highways in the state to enhance road safety.
